From NPR · · 2m
Kosovo's ex-President Thaci gets 25 years for war crimes
Hashim Thaci, once embraced by the West, was convicted of murder, torture and arbitrary detention during Kosovo's 1998-99 independence war.
In brief
Hashim Thaci, once embraced by the West, was convicted of murder, torture and arbitrary detention during Kosovo's 1998-99 independence war. Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci was sentenced to 25 years for war crimes including murder and torture during the 1998-99 independence war from Serbia. Originally reported by…
25 years for war crimes
Kosovo's former President Hashim Thaci was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of war crimes during the 1998-99 independence war.
Four counts of war crimes
Thaci was convicted of murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention. He resigned from office nearly six years ago to face charges.
From hero to convicted criminal
The verdict was a crushing blow for a man once embraced by the West, invited to 1999 peace talks in France and seen as the leader who could guide Kosovo.
Judge cites ruthless leadership
Judge Charles Smith said Thaci actively participated in crimes and showed a ruthless ability to remove and eliminate political impediments to his leadership.
“showed a ruthless ability to remove and eliminate political impediments”
Anger erupts in Kosovo
Kosovo's foreign minister condemned the verdict as terrible. Thousands watched in Pristina, and masked protesters threw stones at the EU mission compound.
“a terrible judgment for Kosovo, for our people and for our liberation war”
Not about the KLA's legitimacy
Judge Smith stressed the trial was not about the legitimacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army or its goal of securing independence, but about personal responsibility.
“not about the legitimacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army”
Serbia sees anti-Serb bias
Serbia's President Vucic said he had no reason to rejoice and claimed the verdict ignored crimes against ethnic Serb civilians, showing anti-Serb bias.
“Serbs are always (war) criminals and others are liberators and heroes”
Three co-defendants also convicted
Three other former KLA leaders were convicted alongside Thaci. Kadri Veseli got 18 years, Rexhep Selimi 13 years, and Jakup Krasniqi 25 years.
Targeting perceived collaborators
The court ruled Thaci and co-defendants targeted political opponents and civilians seen as collaborators. Having Serbian friends or jobs was enough to treat them as traitors.
“there is no indication that the victims in this case were spies or collaborators”
A war that killed 13,000
Most of the 13,000 who died in the war were ethnic Albanians. NATO airstrikes ended the fighting in 1999, after 1 million Kosovars were driven from their homes.
The bottom line
Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci was sentenced to 25 years for war crimes including murder and torture during the 1998-99 independence war from Serbia.
